Gas-engine starter



Oct. 11,1927.

P. E. MACK GAS ENGINE STARTER Filed June 20, 1921 18 WITNESSES @JJ/MQ Patented Oct. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PERRY E. MACK. OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

1'0 BRIGGS 8c STRATTON CORPORATION,

TION OF DELAWARE.

OF MILWAUKEE,'WISCONSIN, A cannons GAS-ENGINE STARTER.

App1ication filed June 20, 1921. Serial No. 479,163.

This invention has for its object-to provide a convenient means for cranking a gas engine that may readily be attached to the crank shaft and will become automatically the pins disconnected therefrom as soon as the engine turns over on its own power.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in a gas engine starter as herein claimed and all equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in. which like characters of reference indicate like parts in different .views:

Fig. 1 is an edge view of a gas engine starter constructed in accordance with this invention Fig. 2 is a face view thereof;

-Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View on the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the plane of In these drawings 10- indicatesla gas engine crank shaft having a tapered end 11 with oppositely usual for the means.

A drum member 13 has a centrally pro projecting p ns 12, as is attachment of a cranking jecting socket 14 with a tapering bore to fit on the tapering end 11 of the crank shaft and with oppo site cam surfaces terminating in hooks 15 for engaglng the pins 12 in the manner usual with starting cranks.

The drum proper is contained within a casin or housing formed by a pair of sheet meta shells 16 and 17 with their flanged edges secured together by means of bent over tongues 18 on one engaging in notches 19 in the other.

The shell 17 has a bearing on the socket pro ection 14 against a shoulder of the drum, while the shell 16 has a similar though smaller bearing on a central stud 20 forming an integral projection from the drum.

A clock spring 21 is contained within the drum and is having its inner end en 22 through said stud.

anchored to the stud 20 by he outer end of the spring is engaged with a pin 23 riveted to shell 16.

A strap 24 is wound around the drum with its end anchored thereto by means of staples 25 on the opposite sides. of project- 26. The free end of the strap passes out of the casing through an elongated tubular eyelet 27 and forms a loop aged within a slot 28 secured by a clip 29 to afford a convenient operating handle portion that remains out side the casing.

In operation the socket 14 is engaged with of the crank shaft and then the strap is pulled by means of the handle loop 28, thus causing the drum to turn and rotate the crank shaft in the proper direction for starting the en ine. WVhen the engine starts the pins 12 r de out of the hooks 15 so that the starter is automatically disconnected. When disconnected, the starter is entirely free from the crank shaft and is supported only by the hand which holds the strap making it possible to use the same starter for any number of engines, as it has no permanent connection with the engine. In drawing the strap out of the casing the spring 21 is Wound up so that as soon as the parts are released it turns the drum to rewind the strap thereon in? the manner usual with tape measures and the like.

As the strap is being drawn out of the casing for cranking the engine, it holds the to rewind the spring and should the turn ing of the crank be mefiective for starting that are so located that they are inaccessible for other cranking means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A portable self detachable gas engine starter, comprising an engine-shaft-engaging member capable of automatic detachment when the engine starts, a strap wound thereon which on being pulled causes the member to turn, a casing surrounding the member and spring means connectinglthe casing an the member for rewinding t e strap by turning the casing.

2. A self detachable as engine starter comprising a drum casing stationary while the drum is turned having a gas engine 1 casing sectioniand connect therewith with the and -tnected thereto, and a strap attached to the shaft-engaging socket, a casin rotatably mounted on and surrounding t e drum, a strap secured to the drum and wound thereon, and. a clock spring within the drum and connected to the drum and to the casing for turning the casing to rewind the strap.

3. A gas engine starter comprising a cylindrical casing formed of flanged disk-like sections with their flanged edges secured to-' gether, a drum member within the casing with a shouldered central stud having bearing in one :casing section and a pro ecting engine-shaft-engaging socket member having a bearing in the other casin section, a clock spring within the drum an connected by having its inner end engaged stud, a in secured to one of the casing sections an projecting into the drum having the outer end of the spring condrumand wound thereon and passing out through an opening in the casing by pulling which the drum maybe turned for turning the engine shaft.

4. A gas engine starter comprising a cylindrical casing formed of disk-like flanged concave sections secured together at their flanged edges by having tongues of one bent over in notches of the other, a drum within the casing having a shouldered central stud fitting in an opening of one casing section and a sh ldered projection fitting in an opening'ofthe other casing section, said projection to "ing: an eng1ne-shaft engaging member, a clock spring within the "drum with its inner end anchoredto the stud by fitting-in a slot 'thereof, 'a in secured, to a q with thejQuter end of thesprin'g, a strap secured to the rum and wound thereon and passing out through an opening formed in the casin sections, and a tubular. eyelet fitting in sai a pair of staples on the drum through which opening and through which the strap passes.

5. In a gas engine starter, a drum having means for connection with an engine shaft, a strap wound thereon,

meeting the strap with the drum, comprisin and means for conthe end of the strap is passed. and rivets in the drum between the staples with their heads projecting from the drum to cause the strap to bend between thestaples.

6. A hand-attached 'self detachable starter for gas-engines comprising an en 'ne-shaftengaging member having releasa 1e engaging parts by means of which it may be supstrap wound on said means when engaged being supported solely by the engine shaft a strap wound on said member which on eing pulled causes the member to turn and turn with it the engine shaft, a casing surrounding the member androtatably mounted thereon to permit relative rotary movement, and a clock spring connected at one end to said member and at the other end with the casing, said strap passing through. an openingjn t he ca sing.

In a gas engine starter, the combination with the crank shaft of vided with a tapered end with lateral engaging pins, of a drum member having ,a tapered socket to fit upon the tapered end of the crank shaft for supporting the drum and having hooks for engaging the pins, a

strap attached to the drum and wound thereon and adapted to turn the'drum for crank ing the engine when aliousing surrounding the drum and having pulled from the drum,

the strap pass therethrou'gh, and a coil spring connected with the drum and with the'housing for rewinding the strap on'the drum. A

In testimony ture.

f PERRY E. MACK-.

turn the shaft, av

a gas engine 'prowhereof, I aflix my signa 

